The spa overlooks
the 25 meter
swimming pool,
super-heated for
the winter
months.
F
or Linda Stearns, who
has traveled the world,
a visit to Canada's
King Ranch was "heaven on
earth."
It was Ms. Stearn's first
trip to a spa, and one she will
never forget.
"It brought out a complete
physical and mental
awareness," she said.
"When I got home, I felt
wonderful, rejuvenated and
lucky to have spent time in
such a wonderful at-
mosphere. It was the most
relaxing place, a recharge."
King Ranch, which opened
last summer on 177 rolling
acres about 40 minutes from
downtown Toronto, is one of
the newest ventures of
Murray Koffler, a Canadian
entrepreneur who founded
Shoppers Drug Mart.
A philanthropist and Jew-
ish community leader, Mr.
Koffler is the international
chairman of the Weizmann
Institute of Science.
The $45 million spa in
Toronto provides 120 guest
F16
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1990
Spa Kin
King Ranch spa in ibronto, Canada,
pampers guests and fitness buffs.
rooms and joins the likes of
other first class health and
fitness resorts such as La
Costa in California and Ca-
nyon Ranch in Arizona.
It is divided into sections.
An impressive clubhouse
connects the spa and the
guest house. You never need
to leave the facility to get
anywhere.
Ms. Stearns arrived at the
spa on a Friday and stayed
for three nights. She was
busy from early morning —
which she started with a
guided power walk — until
the closing activities of mid-
evening, which spa goers
usually end with a movie, a
relaxation class with a yoga
instructor, a compact disc
concert or live musical
entertainment at. the spa's
non-alcoholic bar, where
bottled spring water from all
around the world is offered.
During her stay, Ms.
Stearns, who exercises
regularly at the Maple-
Drake Jewish Community
Center Health Club, took
aqua aerobics, stretch and
tone, low impact aerobics,
funk and fit aerobics and
aerobics with weights.
She also worked out in the
weight room and used the
many Nautilus machines.
KIMBERLY LIFTON
Staff Writer
And she didn't miss out on
the spa's soothing world of
beauty. She took advantage
of the complementary skin
analysis, a 50-minute
Swedish massage, a 50-
minute deep cleansing
facial, the whirlpool and the
highly popular eucalyptus
steam room.
On the inside, all is casual.
Guests parade around in
sweats and T-shirts and the
thick, terry robes provided
in each room. And the food is
all healthful, although you
could gain weight if you're
not careful. Food servers will
bring as much food as you
like; yet they also provide
menus with fat counts and
calories. It's your job to wat-
ch what you eat; nobody is
watching over you.
King Ranch, too, is first
class all the way. Just name
it; you can get it. Everyone is
friendly, ready to help. Pur-
chase something in the gift
shop and someone will
deliver it to your room. Don't
want to carry your skin
analysis form all day? It will
be delivered to your room.
During Ms. Stearn's visit,
a guest became ill and need-
ed a doctor. On the second
floor was a doctor, who took
the patient as a walk in, and
diagnosed bronchitis.
He prescribed some
medication, lots of steam
rooms and "very limited"
aerobics. The medication
was delivered by a local
pharmacy. Even sick, the
guest found ways to stay oc-
cupied. She tried yoga, took
a private squash lesson,
lifted weights and listened to
classical music in a room
filled with compact disc
players.
She enjoyed a soothing
facial, an eye brow arch, a